Well i finally am coming close to getting my engine back from the builder.(maybe next week ) and I saw the short block today and it got me excited, so I thought I would make a post.. I was hoping to have this installed in my 91 z28 before I went out to sea but looks like it wont happen, and it will be sitting for a few months, but atleast it gives me something to look foward to when I return home.

So far this is my parts list.
92 l98 block bored .20 over
Forged speed pro pistons 10.66 to 1 compression
Crower 221/230 cam
AFR 195 heads with upgraded springs
cloyes double roller timing set.
Gmpp ls lifters
Scorpion narrow body 1.6 roller rockers (usa made lifetime warrenty)
Ported and siamesed 3.5" accel runners by cuisinartvette and 385in2005 they are both on here now as well
Ported accel base by cuisinartvette and 385in2005
siamesed ported plenum by cuisinartvette
BBK 58 mm TB
i will be using 30 lb bosch 3 injectors.
dyno don headers

 

 

Very nice man! I'd like to see how this works out because someday I'd like to build a 350 or 383 TPI engine for my 91 TA. What kind of horsepower and torque output are you expecting?

 

Yeah im pretty excited i hope all goes well. I am hoping to get atleast
300 rwhp 350 ish ft lbs. But if I wasnt in california I wouldn't be using the same parts. Id be using Bigger cam, different intake, bigger injectors.

 

Looking good Brother. Out to Sea? Navy man I assume?

 

Thank you, You know what happens when you assume ...lol Im in the Coast Guard smaller ship I do 3months in and 3 months out

 

that is nice man i like the parts you chose too. And how you said youd be using better cam and intake if you didnt live in california, oh well thats still a 70 hp and a good 80 ft lb boost from the stock 5.7 anyways. right now im looking for a 88-90 iroc-z 350 tpi. either that or 91 z28 , or 92 25th anniversary z28's i could settle for. really would like to get the 89 350 l98 roller engine tpi, or the 92 350 tpi. either one is fine, but im told the 86-89 irocs are MAF and 91 on up is speed density so im trying to get the 88 or 89 becuase they are roller motors and have MAF and the ECM and PROM are easier to work on and change out, plus they can handle larger cams better. id love to see how this buildup works out man its pretty cool

 

its prolly be over 100 hp difference at the wheels.

 

 

Got the engine out and my engine bay is so dirty and the paint is chiping in some spots , and my wire harnes is another story , the good news is I got my engine today, boy is it beautiful

 

That engine looks Great! I am hoping to finally be up and running b y tomorrow afternoon, Friday at the latest. I should dyno within a couple of weeks. I think you my have me by a few HP but it will an interesting comparison!
Good Luck!

 

 

Looks great so far!

 

Now I was always wondering, why do manufacturers bother anodizing/painting the rockers when you won't be able to see them anyway after putting the covers on? Nothing against you of course; I was just thinking that leaving them in their natural finish might make em a few bucks cheaper.

 

Nice engine, just wanted to say thanks for your service to our Country!

 

well thanks eagle, and yeah i think its nice looking as well it better be for how much i have in it right now lol

 

So i just pulled my heads off my 305 i had it wasnt even the right engine in my car the guy put an lo3 in here this makes me so much happier to put this 350 in here

 

Yeah i agree it makes sense its not like they make clear valve covers ????

 

It would be cool if they did....
Although you might not be able to see through them after a few minutes of running because of the oil.

 

yup thats true.

 

just sent off a check for some dyno don headers cant wait to to get them after all the pics and reviews i have read.

 

well since i have the engine out i decided to pull everything out and repaint the engine bay what a head ache its has been. all though the ac has came out very easy. Does anyone no how to completly take out the wire harness im stuck by the booster and i would like to take it all the way out. and go though it its quite a mess here is my engine bay.

 

Thats going to look really nice. I touch mine up but didn't repaint the whole thing. Its a good thing since I scratched it some putting the engine back in.

 

Yeah this pic actully makes it look better then what it is the top by the wipers is all chipped up and same with the side of the fenders its drives me crazy looking at it

 

Nice to see how you're going all the way and doing it right. I see that you left the transmission in the car, was it difficult to unbolt from the engine while in the car? Sorry, it's a stupid noob question but I'd like to take on a swap similar to yours sometime....

 

Dude that looks great! Thank you for your service to our country!

Unbolting the tranny while in the car isn't super difficult. side blots done under the car... the rest from up top. the only way it will be difficult is if you have big arms and hands.

I have an 86 Camaro 305 TPI that I am going to put a 1989 350 TPI in. I look forward to seeing the rest of your build!

 

hey thanks you guys, no like stated above its pretty easy to do. i wish i could take the tranny out and replace it but these things cost extra money and i want a t56 in the next year or so. Good luck with your engine swap i was so excited to get that whimpy 305 out it wasnt even in Lb9

 

I will post pics soon... I am putting a plan together for my build. I would like to get 300 -350 hp. As fun as these engines are I think it was pretty bad that they didn't even get over 300hp from the factory... I plan to bore it .030 over... bigger cam... double roller timing chain... not sure what to do about heads... I might go with GM Vortec Heads... not sure... I look forward to comparing notes...

 

yeah sounds like a plan, i have had alot of help from the people on here specially norcalz28.

 

what kind of gears would be optimal for this guys combo ??

 

my combo ? well ill be running 3.45 and in a year ill put a t56 in and i think i will have close to my dream car

 

so for a 10 bolt you would like a 3.42 over a 3.73 with your setup ?

 

yeah for me yes I want to be able to cruise on the freeway and get decent milage as well as stay in my power band tad bit longer. I had a 10 bolt with 3.42 but it didnt have posi or disk so i got a 9bolt with 3.45 to hold me over for a bit

 

got the paint ordered last week for the engine bay. I got it from the coating store online. I got some metallic blue color hopefully its close to what im looking for.

 

I agree with you, I like the 3.45's as well. The TPI makes so much torque it wouldn't gain that much. I think the 3.70's would be OK but probably not really that much quicker.

 

Pretty much the same build that i have goin in but i used different heads. I would have loved the AFR's but found a good deal on dart pro ones. Looks nice! Im in the process of yanking my 305 right now. My bay is WAY worse than yours though. I need to figure out how to to pull the engine harness as well. If i figure it out before you do ill let u kno...and maybe you could do the same? lol

 

mine is alreeady pulled

 

like i said i wouldnt have used this set up if i didnt live in california. i would have loved to not use the tpi intake as i have easily well over 1000 dollars in and that doesnt even include welding i wouldnt have went with these heads( needed exhaust crossover) and i would have went with a bigger cam. I know some people in cali run bigger set ups but i dont have their capibilities or know the people they know, or have the money they have.

 

the cam your running is not necessarily THAT small of a cam. Im running the same one in the flat tappet version (so less lift). Im not sure which version you have the roller cam or flat tappet but i think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Edit saw its a L98 block. So roller. You have plenty of lift for a 350. Thats not really a small cam by any stretch.

Also...how easy was it to get the harness out of the bay?

 

Yeah I know its not that small of a cam but I would want something to make power higher at a higher RPM maybe a custom cam some where around 230/236 and I would have loved the mini ram or hsr and 30 lb injectors and pro filer 210 heads on a 383 probably an easy 400whp car. But this will hold me over till i get an LS1-LS2

 

the harness was easy once i took a step back and stoped acting like a cave man. Pull the connections off the ecm, then in the passenger fender area there is water proof block it goes through, (i forget its held in by screws or clipped) but un do it and then push or pull the wire harness out of the cockpit. You will have to manuver that water proof block to get it out of where its at. I also did this from the wheel well made it easier for me. Then I pulled it threw the fender in the engine bay then just unconnect everything. hope that helped

 

More pics dude, I am anxious to see the progress. BTW, if you're free, come over tomorrow, should be nice weather, you can check out the IROC

Will

 

yeah def i will i dont have plans tomorrow i send you a text later. Not to much to see right now the engine bay is sanded and waiting for primer, andthe paint/primer is gonnna be here next week.

 

will, your car looks and drove awesome. thanks for the ride. Need to get busy on mine

 

I just went back over your combo. You should be in the 320 - 330 territory. Your heads have a point and a half of compression. I would say the AFR's probably flow around where my Darts do ported, maybe better. The 268FXI should be worth a few over the Hot cam. You will be very happy. When are you planning to get it finished?

 

yeah im hoping !! I hope I dont kick myself for going with the 180's instead of the 195. I would not have minded giving up some down low to get some up top. Which is why I like your power curve. i think if you had a smaller head on yours it would be more peaky instead of that nice curve you have.( if that made sense) but I am hoping to have it down now by the end of feb. haha.

 

yay!! my paint came kit came today the color is sweet I love metallic blues.

 

What are you painting dude? BTW, drove the car to Santa Cruz, from there to San Jose and then back, 153 miles total, got about 28mpg dude! It's better than my 4.3L S10

Willl

 

im priming and painting the engine bay first, gonna start it next weekend hopefully then the rest of the car. Damn thats awesome gas mileage wow, cant wait and thats with out a tune.

 

ill have some pics tonight well i ended up taking the booster out yesterday and that kicked my butt till i dropped the steering column so didnt get started priming to late only got one coat